Reader: There is still time for climate action

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The impact of human-enhanced climate change due to carbon emissions is becoming more obvious. Record fires in the West, more extreme droughts and floods, rising sea level and increased hurricane frequency and impacts are just some of the signs. Many climate scientists suggest our climate is approaching a tipping point, the point of no return, when it will be too late to effect change. While the current climate forecast is dire, there is still time for action.

Some climate scientists and economists advocate the implementation of a carbon tax — levied on the carbon content of fossil fuels we burn — as the best and fastest way to address this problem. Once implemented, utilities, businesses and individuals are motivated to reduce the tax they pay by using less carbon-based energy. Though most people (myself included) cringe at the word "tax," a carbon tax could offer an equitable way of distributing the costs of mitigating man-made climate change; and the tax money could be used encourage implementation of cleaner energy technologies.

I urge readers to lobby their elected state and federal officials to work toward the implementation of a tax on carbon emissions — before it's too late.